Garden gate latch repair

[KennyPowers]

Hi,

Got a communal garden gate that is on its last legs, but don't want to spend a lot of money or time on.

I was thinking of just trying to find some iron mongery that matches the old one, but is there a simpler way to latch the gate perhaps? It would need to be openable from both sides.

 

[JohnD]

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[JohnD]

It is a Suffolk latch.

In your pic there is a part missing. The hook that the rising bar drops into.

It would be possible to fabricate a new one, or just buy a complete latch set and use the part you need. It might benefit from being on a longer plate so you could screw into sound timber.

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/search?query=suffolk

 

[KennyPowers]

The hook part came off the other day in the storm. I think it was weakened over time by being bent to accommodate the warping during seasons change. In fact the rising bar has had its end sawn off due to this expansion that causes it to bind with the post.

Thanks, I'll probably pick up the Suffolk latch, and try to position it to allow for a bit of warping (worse in winter/rainy season)

 

[scbk]

That's the problem with the suffolk latches, especially on gates where the users aren't the person having to fix it! Gate gets slammed back and it bends the latch.

You could fit a heavy auto gate latch https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk...o-gate-catch-55-x-55-x-60mm-galvanised-775304

And cut a hole in the gate for access from the outside

 

[KennyPowers]

I could do, but the cavemen & women that use the gate might not understand the change, and smash the gate open anyway!